Lawmakers Describe Plans For The Coming Session

The nation's lawmakers return to action Tuesday on Capitol Hill, ending a winter break that started before Thanksgiving.

After a first session, viewed as lackluster with a strong finish, federal lawmakers face a host of issues during the second half of the 101st Congress.

The Senate plans to get bloody right away. Its leaders have scheduled immediate debate on an overhaul of the Clean Air Act. Adopted 20 years ago, it was last amended in 1977.

Industry leaders who oppose the bill spent much of the congressional break lobbying senators to put the brakes on until more information about the economic impact is known.

Several bills -- including a White House proposal favored by business -- remain in committees on the House side.

Acid rain is expected to be a particularly contentious issue across the country and within Pennsylvania, where utilities themselves disagree about who should pay the cost of cleanup.

Congress faces other unfinished business, including new child-care, education, health and housing programs. Pending legislation involves bills banning discrimination against the disabled and a potential overhaul of the nation's farm programs as part of a comprehensive farm bill.

Tax and defense issues promise to grab the spotlight. Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, D-N.Y., rolled out a political snowball last week with a proposal for eliminating scheduled Social Security tax increases.

Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, D-S.C., followed with a call for what amounts to a nationwide sales tax. Hollings said his plan would cover revenues lost from Moynihan's idea as well as a plan by the Bush administration to reduce capital gains rates.

On the spending side of the ledger, Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., last week proposed across-the-board reductions in U.S. aid to traditional allies, including Israel. He proposed spending the money saved to help struggling nations in Eastern Europe and Central America.

As congressional leaders blocked out time for the year's agenda, The Morning Call last week asked several area congressmen to name the one thing they themselves hope to accomplish this year (aside from re-election).

- Rep. Don Ritter, R-15th District, could not come up with a single issue. Instead he vowed to help American business become more competitive in the global market, offered his expertise in translating Soviet bloc changes and said he wants to raise earnings caps on senior citizens.

Ritter believes tax, trade and anti-trust laws hinder American business, in part by forcing executives to concentrate too much on quarterly performance and not enough on long-term improvements. He wants changes.

The congressman expects to maintain a high profile as a commentator and critic about events unfolding in the Soviet Union and its satellite nations.

"It's an extremely fluid situation," Ritter said. "Clear and experienced voices are going to be required."

Ritter wants to eliminate tax laws that penalize senior citizens whose earnings exceed income caps set for Social Security reasons.

Congress recently raised such caps several thousand dollars. Ritter wants more, saying the restrictions discourage people capable of making valuable contributions to society.

- Rep. Peter H. Kostmayer, D-8th District, in addition to his normal duties, will focus on several projects aimed at preserving the Delaware River and its heritage, according to spokesman John Seager.

"The Delaware River clearly is the most significant natural resource in the Delaware Valley," Seager said. "And there are a variety of threats posed right now."

- Rep. Gus Yatron, D-6th District, wants to tackle international environmental issues as he plans for retirement from Congress in three years.

His interests include pushing for interstate cooperation on regional solid waste disposal problems; investigating the extent private contractors have taken over government work, and forcing the U.S. to put its economic house in order.

- Rep. Joseph M. McDade, R-10th District, was unavalible for this story. But spokesman Harry Phillips said his boss, ranking Republican on the defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, will be busy tracking Department of Defense changes.